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Injured Jones Act Seamen: Don’t Let Your Employer Bully You
After suffering a serious injury, some maritime workers find they are getting a great deal of attention from their employer and their employer’s insurance representatives – and not necessarily the right kind of attention.Employers and insurance representatives sometimes use questionable tactics and pressure to bully injured workers into doing things that can seriously compromise the worker’s case.
It is important that injured Jones Act seamen and the families of those workers know their rights.If an employer or their insurance company asks you to do any of the following, make sure you push back and speak with an experienced, independent maritime law attorney immediately:
When reporting the incident, you are asked to give a recorded statement.You may be told that this is a standard company procedure.Let us make this very clear: you are not required to give a recorded statement.Some insurance representatives are very good at getting injured workers to say things that could damage their claim or be used against them later.Don’t fall into this trap – make sure you get independent legal advice from an experienced maritime law attorney before making any statements.
Your employer encourages you to get advice from a lawyer affiliated with their company.This one should be obvious.What kind of impartial advice do you think you will get from an attorney with ties to your employer?It is important for you to find an independent lawyer not affiliated with your employer but with real experience handling Jones Act and Maritime Law cases to ensure that you receive complete, unbiased information about your rights.
Your employer asks you to sign papers before you can get medical benefits or maintenance payments, stating that the paperwork is required and you can’t get benefits without it.Again, let us be clear: Jones Act seamen are not required to sign any paperwork before getting medical benefits or maintenance.Don’t sign anything until you review the paperwork with your independent attorney (see point #2, above).
Your employer suggests that you work out your differences by going to an arbitrator.Be careful with arbitration – many companies have relationships with arbitrators that can result in a biased arbitration decision.You can really lose out if you try to negotiate on your employer’s terms without your own independent legal counsel.
Your employer sets up an appointment for you with a doctor of their choosing.Again, any time your employer is involved in “helping” you with your claim, you risk them taking advantage of you.You do not have to see a company doctor or one suggested by your employer.Injured Jones Act seamen are free to choose their own medical care provider, something you should definitely do.
If you are a Jones Act seamen who has been injured offshore, please contact the Houston law office of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C.Like any competent Jones Act law firm our attorneys will meet with you and discuss your case for no cost or obligation.Protect your rights: contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom today.
